Boot or shoe stretcher



(No Model.)

J. K. BROWN. BOOT 0R SHOE STRETGHER.

No. 328,642. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

NITE STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN K. BROl/VN, OF WVORGESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT OR SHOE STRETCHER.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,642, dated October 20, 1885.

Serial No. 171,704. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN K. BROWN, of Worcester, in the county of WVorcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot or Shoe Strctchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to the class of stretchers which are used in stretching boots or shoes to conform to the feet and toes of the wearer. It is often the case that much pain is experienced by the wearer in breaking in a new pair of boots or shoes, and in stretching them with the ordinary stretchers now in use the leather is strained beyond what it will bear, on accountof the rigid action of the stretchlug-arms.

My device avoids in a large measure the liability of injury to the boot or shoe in stretching; and it consists in providing the stretching-arms with springs attached to the ends of the arms and fastened to the lastshaped shell. Said shell is made in two halves and hinged together at the heel.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents the last-shaped shell closed, and Fig. 2 represents it opened, one side of which is cut out to show the stretching-arms and my improved spring attached thereto and fastened to the inside of the shell.

A A denote the last-shaped shell, made in two parts hinged together at the heel. C de notes a rod having a screw cut on about onethird its length, which works in a threaded nut, E, held loosely in aslot at the heel of the shell. The screw end of the rod 0 is swiveled and works in a cross-head, F, to which crosshead are attached the stretching-arn'is G G, so they can be moved out or drawn in by turning the screw-rod.

H H denote the springs, one end pivoted to the ends of the arms and fastened at the other end by the screw K to the inside of the shell near the toe.

I I denote holes in the shell, in which may be inserted oval-shaped buttons or lumps, to stretch local spots in case of corns or callous places on the toes or feet, as the case may be.

J denotes the handle to the rod 0.

In the use of my device the leather is less liable to be injured in stretching, by reason of a gradual yielding stretch instead of a rigid stretch, as before stated.

Having thus fully shown and described my invention, what I claim is The combination, with the last'sliaped shell A A, hinged together and provided with screwrod 0, not E, cross-head F, and stretchingarms G G, of the springs H H, substantially as shown, and for the purposes specified.

\Vorcester, lllassachusetts, July 8, A. D. 1885.

JOHN K. BROXVN. lVitnesses:

SIMEON E. KING,

Minion H. GOWDEN. 

